Lifetime Moms

Just like high speed internet, the smart phone (i.e. Iphone), twitter and facebook, I have become addicted to Google, not just for social value, but Google also helps me run my business as well. Here are some great Google tools you can also use to help run your business.

Google Docs
Google Docs can be used for several different things. You have the ability to create a document, presentation, spreadsheet or form.  I use Google Docs to write all of my blog posts because I work on several different computers throughout the day and I can easily send the files to my editor for review. I manage all of my PR contacts and manufacturers via the spreadsheets and use the forms for my mompreneur questioner on bizziemommy.com. Best of all it automatically generates an online form that customers can fill out. Once they hit submit it goes directly into a Google spreadsheet.

Google Reader
Google Reader lets you feed all of your favorite blogs into one place so you can read through them more efficiently. Without Google Reader I would never get through all of them.

Google Alerts
Google Alerts sends you alerts on whatever search topic you are looking for and emails you the results. I use Google Alerts for hot topics in my business, like the new online sales tax. I also use it to track different topics that I write about on my blogs, like moms in business and marketing to moms. You can use Google Alerts to track what’s said about your company/brand and even what people are saying about your competitors.

Google Calendar
Google Calendar is just that, a calendar that can send you reminders and alerts by email and it can also work with your Smart Phone since there is a Google calendar sync option on the iPhone.

Google Apps
Google Apps is great for business owners who have a small staff. There is a $50 per user fee but it is still cheaper than using Microsoft Exchange and other utilities.

Google Voice
Google Voice gives you a single phone number that rings all your phones, saves your voicemail online, and transcribes your voicemail to text. Other cool features include the ability to listen in on messages while they are being left and the ability to make low cost international calls. I was just invited to join Google Voice and I’m eager to put it to use.